SMS Press

Hello Spartan Families,

We are writing to provide an update regarding the repairs to our front entry doors. Final repairs will be handled during the summer months to ensure the least amount of disruption to our daily operations. Rest assured that all standard safety protocols remain in place and the functionality of our entryway remains a priority.

We want to wish our entire school community a safe, fun, and restful Spring Break! We hope you find time to recharge and we look forward to seeing everyone back on campus March 16th.

Beginning March 24th, all students will begin taking the Wisconsin Forward Exam. 6th, 7th and 8th grade students take the English/Language Arts and Math Tests. 8th grade students will also take Science and Social Studies Tests. After Spring Break we will send more communication and a reminder as we begin preparing for the Forward Exam.

Research shows that the many synthetic colored dyes used in food can cause harmful health effects, particularly in children. Colors such as Red #40 or Red 3, Blue 1, Yellow 5 and others are amongst the ingredient list that can cause an increase in attention difficulties, negative behaviors, and attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD). These food dyes are found in so many of the foods our children (and adults) eat daily, such as cereals/granola bars, yogurts, sports beverages/juices, various chips, candies, and SO many more. If your child seems to have attention difficulties, behavioral outbursts out of the ordinary, or is taking medication related to hyperactivity, it may be worth looking into the everyday foods they are consuming. If you cut out or even cut back on the amount of processed foods containing artificial dyes, you may notice a pleasant difference in their overall mood. Read labels, have conversations with your child, and give it a try!

Spring Break is officially here! It has been an incredibly busy and productive stretch at SMS.

Middle school is a marathon, not a sprint, and your children have truly been putting in the miles. Before the backpacks are tossed aside for the week, please join me in celebrating their growth and effort. A little validation goes a long way in keeping their confidence high for the final stretch of the year.

This week has been especially momentous: our 6th and 7th graders have been busy registering for next year's classes, while our 8th graders are beginning to gear up for their next big adventure at Superior High School.

As our 8th graders approach their transition to high school, they have the opportunity to hear from a program that supports 9th-12th grade students on Monday, March 16th.

Upward Bound provides academic support, tutoring, counseling, and college prep to low-income and potential first-generation college students in grades 9-12. If you want to learn more about their program, please visit their website at: https://uwsuper.edu/community-engagement/youth-and-high-school-programs/upward-bound/

We hope you have a wonderful, restful week with your student, and we look forward to seeing them when they return!

Supporting mental health and wellness for students and families.

We are proud to partner with Cartwheel to provide access to mental health support for the students and families in our community via virtual therapy and family guidance with licensed clinicians.

If your child is struggling with anxiety, having a hard time staying focused, or could benefit from extra support, Cartwheel is here to help. Many families reach out to ask questions or get advice before a challenge becomes bigger.

How Cartwheel can help:

✓ No waitlists – Students, families, and staff can be seen within days, not months
✓ Flexible scheduling – Virtual appointments available 8am-8pm Mon-Fri and some weekend hours
✓ Multiple languages – Care available in English, Spanish, and other languages
✓ No financial barriers – Free for families with Medicaid; in-network with many insurance plans

How to access support:

• For Families: Parents and caregivers seeking support for their child can complete this simple interest form.

• For Referring Staff: School counselors and social workers can refer students and families who could benefit from therapy, parent guidance, or psychiatric care.

We're here when you need us. Learn more and get started: https://www.cartwheel.org/district/superior-school-district

Help Us Celebrate Our Spartans!

We know our students are doing amazing things even after the bell rings! Whether it’s a championship game, a dance recital, a community service project, or a local news feature, we want to see it.

We are updating our "Spartans in the News" bulletin board and need your help! Please send in:

Photos of your student in action

Newspaper article links

A quick note about their recent achievement

You can send us a DM or email them to brooke.keeler@superior.k12.wi.us.

Let’s fill this board with Spartan Pride!

Calling all Spartan families and community members! We are gearing up for the Spring Carnival on April 23rd and we need your help to make it unforgettable!

The SMS PBIS team is putting together raffle baskets—a total highlight of the event—and we are looking for donations! 🎁

How you can help:

Shop the Wish List: Pick something out from our SMS Spring Carnival Raffle & Wish List and have it shipped directly to the school!

Drop Off at SMS: Have something else in mind? You can drop off items at the SMS main office.

Every donation helps us create amazing baskets for our students. Thank you for supporting our Spartans!

We are so proud to recognize our Quarter 2 Spartan Salute recipients! These students were nominated by staff via positive referrals for consistently living out our core values: Work, Respect, Belong.

Congratulations to these leaders for making our school a better place every single day!

Our food drive has officially come to a close, and we are absolutely floored by the generosity of our students and their families. Together, we collected a grand total of 1,038 items! While you can see plenty of donations in the photo, this is only a fraction of the total—our collection bins had to be emptied 4 times throughout the drive to make room for more!

Congratulations to our Spartan Start Winners:

1st Place: Agurkis (276 items)

2nd Place: Pison (255 items)

3rd Place: Herman (148 items)

All items donated will go directly to supporting the Salvation Army and Project Reach Out.

6th grade ELA students have been researching mysteries! Team 3 students spread out in the library today to share their research projects with classmates. Students learned new information, and practiced collaborating and giving feedback. We are so proud of their progress!

Save the Date: Mentor North's Flapjack Fundraiser is Sunday, April 19th.

For our 4th year in a row, we are partnering with the Superior Middle School - Superior, WI 8th grade leaders (meet this year's crew in the photo!).

Learn more about the Superior Middle School Flapjack Fundraiser for Mentor North

And get your tickets ahead of time for $10 (includes a 3 pancake, sausage and egg breakfast with unlimited juice and coffee all served up by our favorite 8th graders and some awesome alumni who are coming back to serve up more impact for local youth.

Walk-ins welcome, tickets are $15 at the door.

Enrollment is open for 8th grade students! Parents are welcome to join as well. For tour details and to secure your spot, copy & paste the enrollment link into your browser (www.eftours.com/2826540NZ) or scan the QR code below.

We want to make sure every student who wants to go has the chance to join us. If you have any questions about the itinerary, the enrollment process, or the payment schedule, please don't hesitate to reach out to our international group leader and Superior School District teacher, Leah Herman, at missleahherman@yahoo.com.

Let’s make these memories happen!

Check out the opportunities to support SMS students and classrooms below! Donations can be dropped off in the main office. Thanks in advance for your support!

Our clothing closet is in need of some items! Many students utilize our clothing closet if they need a change of clothes or are in need of hygiene items.

We are only accepting NEW items.

Donations can be dropped off in our main office.

Check out & share our wish list!

Thank you for supporting our SMS students.

Our Spartan Store is still looking for donations to reward our students for practicing work, respect, belong. Here is the link to our Amazon wish list-https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1K51YESY0I0DS...

Please review the fan expectations below!

Class starts each day with students in classrooms by 7:53am. To see if your child has been tardy to any of their classes, check PowerSchool to view your child’s attendance. If you see any errors, please contact the main office.

**Our school day ends at 3:10 pm. Unless your student is registered for an after school activity, they must leave the building by 3:30pm.**